Efficacy and Biological Targets of Response to rTMS Therapy in Youth Depression

The highest rates of depression are reported in youth 16-24 years of age and youth depression is a significant source of burden to the individual, their families, and to society. Unfortunately, current treatments (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which are conventionally used to treat depression often have modest and sometimes no efficacy in youth. Also, accumulating evidence suggests that these medications may increase suicidal thoughts in adolescents and young adults below the age of 24. In addition to pharmacological treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been used alone or in combination with medications for treating depression in this age group. Although randomized controlled trials and practice guidelines support the use of CBT alone and CBT with an antidepressant medication for adolescent depression, a large minority of adolescents do not respond to either treatment approaches.Thus, there is a tremendous imperative to develop new treatments for youth depression.

Investigators propose to examine the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for youth depression. There are several reasons for pursuing this treatment: 1) rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a cortical region implicated in pathophysiology of depression, is a safe and FDA approved treatment for adults with medication-resistant depression; 2) Young age is suggested to be a good predictor of response to rTMS treatment; 3) rTMS trials in adolescence and youth with medication resistant depression provide evidence that rTMS is a safe efficacious and well tolerated treatment for adolescents that does not increase suicidal thoughts. Additionally, recently rTMS parameter developments such as theta burst stimulation (i.e., TBS) provide compelling evidence for efficacy in less of the time it takes to administer conventional rTMS, thus lowering the overall costs and increasing the number of patients that can be treated.

It is imperative that research investigate treatment related biological mechanisms, such that increases in understanding can lead to enhanced efficacy. Investigators will utilize a novel and powerful in vivo brain mapping technique of TMS combined with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) that permits non-invasive assessment of inhibitory, connectivity and plasticity mechanisms from the DLPFC. The pathophysiology of depression has been linked to impairment in neural plasticity and connectivity and neural and behavioral inhibition - mechanisms that can be measured through TMS-EEG and maybe changed by TBS treatment. Therefore, investigating the association between TBS-related changes in plasticity, connectivity and inhibition may be key to understanding both the treatment mechanisms involved in youth depression and predictors of treatment response in this disorder.

Therefore the specific aims in this study are twofold:

• To examine the efficacy of TBS applied to the DLPFC for youth depression, and
• To identify biological targets and predictors of response to TBS applied to the DLPFC for youth depression.

Inclusion criteria

• outpatients
• between the ages of 16 and 24
• competent to consent to study participation
• Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) confirmed diagnosis of MDD single or recurrent
• no change in treatment (psychotherapy or medication) for at least four weeks prior to participation in the study
• HRSD-17 score of 20 and higher
• at least one failed/refused/intolerant to antidepressant trial in the current episode as determined by Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF)
• No safety concerns endorsed on TMS Screening and Information Form

Exclusion criteria

• lifetime MINI diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, current psychotic symptoms, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, a history of epilepsy or any other major neurological disorder
• history of substance use disorders (moderate to severe) within the last 3 months as determined by MINI
• concomitant major unstable medical illness
• acutely suicidal or high risk for suicide as assessed by a study psychiatrist
• not eligible to receive TMS or MRI as indicated by TMS Screening and Information Form
• a change in treatment status during the study trial that will be considered a confound to the study. This includes change in medication or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, each reviewed case by case by the study psychiatrists.
• medications that are considered a confound to the study including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and anticonvulsants.
• missing more than 20% of the treatment sessions consecutively (i.e., 2 sessions in a row) or 40% (i.e., 4 sessions) within two weeks
• have failed brain stimulation in the past